Drunk dialing (att: Shay!)

"Oh...I'm sorry...if you don't like coffee I've got some sodas and juice?"

It never occurred to her that anyone over the age of fifteen wouldn't like coffee...sometimes she almost lived on the stuff.

And there he went again, talking very strangely. The sun is not his friend?

"Is there some reason you find the need to be able to locate people in their beds?"

It was this whole 'vampire' thing...Shay was getting paranoid and seeing all kinds of things where there wasn't anything. She knew it was because she still didn't have a clear understanding. She had to talk to Mathias...

Mathias...

Again she brought herself back to Paul.

"I think you could handle it...there's romance...and I guess you could classify part of it as a love story...though there's also comedy, sex, drama, and a bit of a mystery...I'm writing..."

And a statement she'd said how many times before, without giving it any thought at all...now seemed unbelievable.

"...vampires...it's a story about vampires."

His ears perked up when she said vampires. He picked his head off the couch and looked at her.

Vampires? Oh reeeaally? You picked the perfect place to write it about it. I mean, this town is very old and all. Though then again why not translvania? And I like coffee, just with tons of cream. I like my cup of cream with a dash of coffee.

He laid his head back down and stared up at her ceiling. It tilted a little, a sign that he was still not sober enough to be thinking straight. It tugged at him from the corner of his mind. His little secret. He wanted to blurt it out, get past it and keep going. Vampire women were never friendly, always cold and calculating. Human's they still had the bit of...well humanity in them that made them likable to be around. He hardly knew Shay and that could be why he wanted to tell her so badly. Secrets didn't make you look so bad when told to a stranger.

Why vampires?

Pouring the coffee, she put the mugs on a tray and included the pot and her creamer as well. Though she usually took her's completely black, cream was a nice change on occasion, so she always had some.

"That's exactly why I chose Nachton...it is old, and it's on the eastern coast. When I was researching places to relocate to, I wanted to get as far away from where I grew up, as possible...without moving to Transylvania."

She smiled at him as she set the tray down, handed him his mug, and sat down again. Sipping her coffee, she savored it's aromatic flavor, and the way it soothed her chill, from the inside out.

"I've got a lot of family though, on the west coast still, and didn't want to be too far. Not to mention...I don't speak Romanian..."

The vampire question was one she'd fielded many times from friends and family, before she'd actually moved away. But that was when it was just a question...impersonal...involving a fantasy.

Now that it was real...and the mere word conjured up the face of someone she loved, she couldn't just throw out that pat answer any longer... Or maybe that was all she could answer with.

"I don't have any profound reason for writing about vampires...other than, like so many girls, I grew up thinking they were romantic."

And though she got the words out without a hitch, she couldn't stop the bitterness from the laugh that followed.

He stirred until the coffee was a very light carmel color. He took a sip as she laughed and he looked out the corner of his eye at her.

Ouch, that laugh sounds a little...nasty. I think theres something more to that last statement then you let on.

The warmth of the coffee had a somewhat sobering effect. He looked back at her to say more but stopped. His brow furrowed together and one went up as he tilted his head. There was a faint mark on her neck. It was fading fast but Panos had given those marks before and could recognize them easily. He went back to his coffee and drank again. Perhaps it was a simple hickey.

Are you sure no one hurt you the other night Shay? At least anyone pretending to be a vampire so they could win a mention in your book? You never know about people these days. You are new to town and in Nachton there's certain kinds of people who will take advantage of that. I happen to know a few of them.

He was watching the steam rise from the mug and he got that feeling again, that she wasn't telling the full truths. But then again, neither was he. Mine is different he thought to himself. She'd run for the hills and never speak to me again if I told her.

At what loss would that be to you Pauly boy? The voice taunted him. A stranger is a stranger and a secret to a stranger lifts your burden.

The voice in my head must be drunk too.

"Wow, either I'm a lot more transparent than I ever realized, or you are one amazingly astute guy, for being so drunk...and so young."

Though she was taken aback by his comment, she still didn't feel like elaborating. Maybe, one day...if she was able to pursue their friendship, and get to know him better...maybe then she could share more intimate parts of her life...but not now.

And his next question seemed to drive a stake into her heart...was that more irony?

"No...really Paul. The evening didn't end as well as I'd hoped...but I wasn't attacked or anything...the other night."

And that wasn't a lie...she'd been bit before that...her hand unconsciously reaching up to rub the spot

"Truly...everyone I met the night of the ball was very friendly...couldn't have been more polite."

She regarded him with a look of utter questioning.

"Though you are really doing wonders for my curiosity. Who do you hang out with that might find a reason to take advantage of me? It bothers me to think you could be as easily accosted."

Feeling like the events past were finally taking their toll, Shay laid down on her side on the floor, and propped her head on her hand, to see Paul, as he talked.

The coffee was mellowing him out more than he expected and he felt the drowsy effects of the liquor and warmth of the coffee kick in. He stood and cracked his neck and then laid on her couch. He left his feet hanging off the edge so that his shoes didn't dirty her furniture. There were a few things he was anal about and that was one of them. He had tried to preserve many things from his past and failed terribly.

Ok I will take your word for it, but if you ever need help with anything or from anyone, let me know. I know we haven't known each other long but I like you. You are a..how do you say it? Damn the word is on the tip of my tounge! How about this, you are a trustworthy person. Without even knowning me you have helped me out and kept me company. This being the second time. I admire that and I strive to be more like that myself. Whatever that word may be.

He looked from the ceiling back to her face and the room swam again. He laughed.

Ok, I thought i was totally more sober than this. Your coffee had me fooled miss Shay. I have yet to be accosted myself but it may not be much longer before someone tries. I know people, not very good people and i use the word people loosely because 'people' aren't so wicked. My aunt's one of these people. They wouldn't taken advantage of you perse, but new people like you. He thought for a moment.

It's kinda like the mob ya know? They arent nice people.

His goal was clear,his focus precise...then why did MAthias feel so nervous? It couldn't be that he was about to knock on the door of the woman he loved,a woman he had recently abandoned and told that they couldn't be. Nah,couldn't be that.

He approached her door and stopped. Did he hear...voices? Mathias concentrated and felt the sensory input increase. He definitely heard two voices - Shay...and a man?? His heart raced,could she have gotten over him so quickly? No..he did not no what was going on but Mathias would not be deterred.

He stepped up to the door and knocked.

“Aww…that’s a really nice thing to say. But you’re easy to talk to, Paul…and you make me smile…remind me that I’m not so old either, and can still have fun.”

She almost said she was a pretty good judge of character, but that was still in question. It wasn’t a good feeling, doubting herself…though did she really? She still loved Mathias. Love wasn’t something she just turned off and on. If he’d told her he was an atheist, she’d still love him, though she might not agree with his beliefs. If he had said he was a crack addict, she would still love him, but help him seek treatment. Was being a vampire so different…?

Paul…she smiled at him, and hoped she hadn’t just been staring into space like an idiot. She was glad he decided to sleep over. She really would have worried if he’d gone home in the condition he was in.

Standing up, she went into her office and grabbed the comforter, and brought it out to him with a down pillow from the hall closet. She handed them to him, and sat on the couch at his feet, to remove his shoes.

“Well of course I know there are bad people in the world…I was a cop…I’ve seen a lot of ugliness in the world. One reason I decided to leave the force…I thought it didn’t bother me, but I was wrong. I…”

Before she could finish her sentence, there was a knock at the door. She gave him a slight shrug, to let him know she had no clue who it could be, and stood up. But as she walked to the door she realized it couldn’t be anyone else…and if he was here now, he must have changed his mind? Her heart and mind sure hoped so anyway.

Flipping on the porch light, she saw him through the peep hole, and opened the door.

“Hi…”

She said in a tiny voice…suddenly afraid to say anything else….except…

“Do you want to come in?”

Panos accepted the cozy looking comforter with joy. He was surprised but happy when Shay sat at his feet and began to untie his shoes for him. He was glad he stayed too. Besides Aunt Chrys who did he really have? Birseis! He laughed at himself for thinking of the dog as a friend. Where was the dog anyways? She hadn't come out from underneath the booth at Club E. Maybe she was waiting for him there.

Well she would have to wait a little longer. Sassy bag of fleas.

As Shay removed one of his shoes they both heard a knock. He watched her shrug and could tell she was just as surprized as he to hear a knock on the door this late. Maybe they had been to loud with their talking and laughing.

As Shay stepped away to get the door Panos moved the comforter aside and took his shirt off. He normally slept naked but as a guest at another persons house he felt that would be a bit bold. He tossed the shirt on the floor next to the couch and finished taking off his other shoe.

"I've been a fool Shay - and I am sorry. Can we talk please? There is so much I want to share,so much I nee-" Looking past Shay he noticed the man on couch. No shirt and a comforter around him...

His voice was even as he did not move,but looked her in the eyes.
"Did I come at a bad time Shay?"

Hearing he had changed his mind, Shay's heart lept. He wanted to talk...she wanted to talk...

Though when he saw Paul, she could have sworn she felt him tense up.

"Bad time? No, of course not.

Mathias this is Paul...

Paul, this is my...this is Mathias."

She pulled Mathias into the room further, and held on to the cuff of his jacket.

"Paul is my friend...but tonight he partied a little too much, and I didn't want him driving, or wandering around town, so I invited him to stay over."

She smiled at Paul, hoping she hadn't made him sound like a child, or charity case...because she felt he was neither. She felt he was a friend she was...befriending.

Looking up at Mathias, her fingers still gripping his cuff, she smiled at him as well, and her eyes begged him to believe what she said. If he were to question her now, doubt her, she didn't think she could withstand it.

"We can go into the other room and talk..."

It was only a little awkward, but Shay saw no reason it needed to remain such. Paul could stay...Mathias could stay...Shay and Mathias could talk...

Panos turned his head to greet Shay's friend with a smile and froze. What had entered was not just any guy, it was a vampire. A vampire that Shay had just brought into the house. He thought of her neck again. He never connected two and two faster. He narrowed his eyes slightly. He stood upright and walked towards Mathias and extended his hand. He locked eyes with the man and stared directly into them, unblinking.

Nice to meet you Mathias. I'm Paul.

Panos turned his head to greet Shay's friend with a smile and froze. He narrowed his eyes slightly. Shay seemed nervous around him, could he be the reason for the pained look in her eyes? He stood upright and walked towards Mathias and extended his hand. He locked eyes with the man and stared directly into them, unblinking.

Nice to meet you Mathias. I'm Paul.

That's cute - Paul was trying to stare him down. Rather difficult to do that to someone who has seen a thousand battles,but Mathias gave him credit for trying. Returning Paul's look he smiled. "Hello..Paul. You must be the one Shay mentioned. Thank you for standing her up - I appreciated the extra time with her." Be nice he admonished himself. This is Shay's home and you should be respectful.

"Nice to meet you Paul. If you will excuse me, I need to talk to Shay in private." He grasped Shay's hand and moved towards the bedroom.

Panos grabbed Shays free wrist to stop her.

I've seen what that extra time has gotten you, a little more than it should of. Shay wait a minute. Don't go off with him just yet.

He turned his gaze to hers and tried to warn her with his eyes.

(edit cuz i forget words!)

Shay just blinked.

Paul had quite cordially gotten up to greet Mathias, and the next thing she knew she was being pulled into the bedroom. Then Panos was grabbing her other hand...WTF? She pulled both her hands out of their grasps, and stopped. She looked at Mathias first, seriously, though not in anger.

"Please...go ahead...I'll be right there."

And she shooed Mathias towards her bedroom, as she turned back to Paul.

"I...will be fine...trust me...I know what I'm doing..."

She wouldn't apologize for Mathias. He acted the way he'd acted for his own reasons; however, Paul was still a guest in her house, and she had no reason to change the way she felt about him, or was treating him.

"Please, Paul...stay? I can cook you breakfast in the morning, and we can talk some more before you go home...please?"

Paul was a big boy, and would do what he wanted...she really did hope he stayed though. Smiling at him, she turned and followed Mathias into the bedroom.

I will be just outside the door if you need me.

Panos watched the door close behind Shay and he felt panic rise in his chest. She had let him in willingly, yet there was something not right between the two of them. It worried him.

'If that fucker hurts her he is going to see all sorts of rage unleashed. Meegan's apartment will look like a dollhouse compaired to what will happen if he so much lays a tooth on her.'

Panos paced in front of the couch and tried to be ready if he even heard a slight voice raise.

Mathias gave Paul his very best #43 Stare O' Doom. The one that caused armies to flee and small children to make puddles.
"You overstep your bounds,boy." The words came out as more of a growl than he realized. Something about 'Paul' set him on edge,much like...Cyrus...


"This is your home Shay,and I will respect your wishes." His gaze didn't leave Paul as he said those words nor did it break when he headed to the back bedroom. Breathing to calm himself down,he concentrated and extended his senses,allowing his hearing to pick up the conversation. He would be damned if some lovesick pup interfered with what he had to say to Shay!

"Thank you..."

Shay uttered as she closed the door, and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed...she really was pretty exhausted by now, but knew she had to retain her senses.

"I'm sure what you saw when you got here appeared strange...in all actuality, it was a very strange evening...but, in all fairness...you started this whole thing."

She had to get Mathias' mind back on them, and off the poor boy in the other room.

"You said you wanted to talk...I'm glad...I've got things to say as well...and MANY questions...but before you start...I'm very glad you came back."

She loved this man, and hoped against all rational thought, that between the two of them they could find a way to make it work between them.

She smiled at him, and patted the bed, as she moved more to the center, to sit cross legged.

He sat down where Shay indicated. He wanted to reach out and touch,hold her and tell her how sorry he was. But he knew that was not the best path for them. They needed to talk and he needed to listen as well.

He reached out to hold Shay's hand,but thought better of it. "Thank you for letting me come in. Truth be told I wasn't sure if you would,considering our last words. But I knew I had to try and talk to you,no matter" He took a deep breath,trying to find the words and only found raw emotion. "I'm so sorry Shay. I was wrong, I was foolish and I was selfish. I turned my back on the woman I love because I was scared. I love you Shay, I have always loved and I will always love you." He buried his face in his hands,trying not to lose it.